Regulations for Home Occupations in the City of Long Beach

In the City of Long Beach, residents are permitted to conduct home-based businesses, officially termed "Home Occupations," provided the activity is incidental to the residential use and does not disturb the neighborhood character. All business activities must be performed by a maximum of two residents of the dwelling, utilize no more than 128 cubic feet of storage, and strictly prohibit any on-site retail sales or exterior signage. [Section 21.15.1350, Section 21.51.235]

Permitted Home Occupations in Long Beach

The Long Beach Municipal Code allows for various professional and creative enterprises to operate within a residence. These activities must be secondary to the primary use of the structure as a home. Permitted uses include:

Professional Offices: Research, management, accounting, architecture, consulting, writing, and computer programming. [Section 21.51.235.A.1]
Instructional Services: Cognitive instruction or training, such as academic tutoring or music lessons. These are limited to a maximum of six students at any given time. [Section 21.51.235.A.2]
Home Craft Uses: Creative work that results in a tangible product, including dressmaking, furniture making, sculpting, and photography. However, the Long Beach Municipal Code prohibits the direct sale of these manufactured articles from the residence. [Section 21.51.235.A.3]
Cottage Food Operations: Low-risk food products prepared in a private home, as regulated by the California Health and Safety Code. [Section 21.51.235.A.4]

Operational Standards and Requirements

The City of Long Beach imposes strict technical standards to ensure that home businesses do not negatively impact surrounding residents. These include limits on staffing, storage, and visitation.

Regulation Category	Standard in the City of Long Beach
Permitted Workers	Maximum 2 workers; both must be residents of the unit. [Section 21.51.235.B.1]
Instructional Capacity	Maximum 6 students at any one time. [Section 21.51.235.A.2]
Business Storage	Maximum 128 cubic feet of materials or products. [Section 21.51.235.B.6]
Hourly Visitor Limit	Maximum 2 business visitors per hour. [Section 21.51.235.B.9]
Daily Visitor Limit	Maximum 8 business visitors per day. [Section 21.51.235.B.9]
Weekly Deliveries	Maximum 2 deliveries of products or materials per week. [Section 21.51.235.B.9]
Vehicle Restrictions	Maximum 2 business-related vehicles; only 1 may be commercially licensed. [Section 21.51.235.B.12]
Advertising	Media advertisements must not contain the property address. [Section 21.51.235.B.11]
Noise Levels	Must not exceed standard residential levels defined in the Noise Ordinance. [Section 21.51.235.B.3]

Prohibited Business Activities

The City of Long Beach expressly prohibits certain business types from operating as home occupations due to their potential for noise, traffic, or safety hazards. Prohibited uses include:

Automotive Services: Any automobile repair, parts sales, washing, or towing services. [Section 21.51.235.C.3, C.22]
Personal Services: Beauty salons, barber shops, skin care services, and massage therapy. [Section 21.51.235.C.4, C.12, C.21]
Health and Wellness: Health clubs, gyms, dance studios, and aerobic studios. [Section 21.51.235.C.12]
Medical and Specialized Services: Medical or dental offices, morticians, and veterinary uses. [Section 21.51.235.C.14, C.15, C.25]
Commercial Sales: Direct retail sales from the site and gun sales. [Section 21.51.235.C.11, C.20]
Industrial and Trade: Carpentry, cabinet making, welding, machine operations, and contractor storage yards. [Section 21.51.235.C.6, C.9, C.23]
Miscellaneous: Religious services, private clubs, palm reading, and ambulance services. [Section 21.51.235.C.1, C.16, C.17, C.18]

Environmental and Structural Constraints

Under the Long Beach Municipal Code, a home occupation must not change the residential appearance of the premises. A separate entrance used exclusively for the business is prohibited. Furthermore, no toxic, explosive, flammable, or radioactive materials may be stored or used on the site. [Section 21.51.235.B.4, B.7, B.8]

While a garage may be used for business operations or storage, it must not displace the parking spaces required for the residential use of the property. Materials related to the business must be stored entirely indoors; no outside operations or displays are permitted. [Section 21.51.235.B.5, B.6, B.10]

Permit Validity and Compliance

A home occupation permit is issued to a specific individual and is valid only for the person to whom it was issued. The permit becomes void if the individual moves from the dwelling unit or discontinues the business. Any home occupation that becomes a nonconforming use due to a code revision must be brought into compliance or discontinued within three months of becoming nonconforming. [Section 21.51.235.B.14, D.2]

Sections Cited